Influence of Polypropylene Fibres on the Strength and Durability of Zeolite Based Concrete

Zeolite powder, a fine by-product derived from the industrial processing of natural zeolite rocks, can serve as a supplementary cementitious material due to its pozzolanic properties. When used as a partial replacement for cement, it reacts with calcium hydroxide during the hydration process to produce additional calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H), thereby enhancing the mechanical strength and durability of concrete. In this investigation, cement was replaced with zeolite at levels of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%, while polypropylene (PP) fibres were incorporated at 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.4% by volume. A total of 120 specimens including cubes (150 × 150 × 150 mm), cylinders (150 × 300 mm), and prisms (150 × 250 × 500 mm) were prepared for testing. Tests were conducted on each mix to evaluate compressive strength, flexural strength, and modulus of elasticity, water absorption, and resistance to acid attack, porosity, and carbonation depth. The results indicated that the incorporation of PP fibres into zeolite-based concrete significantly improved its performance compared to mixes containing zeolite without fibres.